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1177396

	registered interest
	date	10/02/2020
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reinstating the Access to Elected Office Fund for people with disabilities.
	tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
	tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
	uin	14606
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2020 answer text <p>While financial support for candidates in elections is also a matter for political parties the Government is considering what support it might provide to succeed the current EnAble fund. The Disability Unit is considering options in connection with the National Strategy for Disabled People, which is due to be published in 2020.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 13/02/2020 13:21:55 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	150 label Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman

1640548

	registered interest
	date	25/05/2023
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether it is her Department's policy to provide additional funding to support disabled candidates standing at the next General Election.
	tabling member constituency	St Albans
	tabling member printed	Daisy Cooper
	uin	186960
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2023 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 stipulates that parties must make reasonable adjustments to support disabled candidates and ensure, as far as possible, that they have the same access as non-disabled candidates. Ministers have made clear in letters to parties and Statements to the House that ultimately the responsibility sits with political parties.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 05/06/2023 15:45:27 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	4769 label Biography information for Daisy Cooper

1551143

	registered interest
	date	13/12/2022
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund and EnAble Fund for Elected Office
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the annual costs were of the (a) Access To Elected Office Fund and (b) EnAble Fund.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	109499
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2022 answer text <p>Breakdowns of the costs are detailed in the reports into the funds, which can be found on the following links:</p><p>(a) Access to Elected Office Fund (pages 12-13): <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/722039/Access_to_elected_office_evaluation_report.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/722039/Access_to_elected_office_evaluation_report.pdf</a></p><p>(b) EnAble Fund (sections 4 and 6): <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/barriers-to-elected-office-for-disabled-people/barriers-to-political-representation-disability-and-the-enable-fund#funding-awarded" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/barriers-to-elected-office-for-disabled-people/barriers-to-political-representation-disability-and-the-enable-fund#funding-awarded</a></p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 20/12/2022 16:09:38 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1232342

	registered interest
	date	08/09/2020
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Administration of Justice: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what plans the Race and Ethnic Disparities Commission has to investigate inequalities of (a) outcome from the judicial system and (b) composition of (i) Supreme Court judges, (ii) Court of Appeal judges (iii) civil court judges, (iv) magistrates court judges, (v) barristers and solicitors and other legal professionals, (vi) the Crown Prosecution Service and (vii) the police.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
	tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
	uin	86725
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/commission-on-race-and-ethnic-disparities" target="_blank">Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparity</a> is supported by a secretariat based in the Cabinet Office, who handle correspondence in line with the published departmental guidance and requirements as set out in relevant legislation. Those wishing to submit evidence to the Commission are encouraged to send contributions via email, noting that it may take longer to process items sent by post. Further details of the Commission, its work and how to contact them are published on <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/commission-on-race-and-ethnic-disparities" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/organisations/commission-on-race-and-ethnic-disparities</a></p><p>As outlined on the Commission website, the Commission will focus on areas including poverty, education, employment, health and the criminal justice system, and will look at outcomes for the whole population.</p><p>The Commissioners were appointed by the Prime Minister after a thorough process, and we are pleased to have such a diverse range of Commissioners that can bring a wealth of talent to their roles. The Commissioners are not remunerated for their roles and are not required to undertake unconscious bias training under their terms of appointment.</p><p>The secretariat to the Commission is made up of Cabinet Office staff, who were recruited in line with the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.</p><p>Any activities associated with the Commission will be handled in line with the relevant Cabinet Office policies ensuring effective use of public money and transparency in line with departmental annual reporting.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch grouped question UIN 86724 86726 86727 86728 question first answered 14/09/2020 08:57:39 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
	tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1623941

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2023
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Advocacy: Women
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent steps the Government has taken to help support women's advocacy groups and charities in local communities.
	tabling member constituency	Blackpool North and Cleveleys
	tabling member printed	Paul Maynard
	uin	904646
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2023 answer text <p>Local advocacy groups and charities provide excellent services and are vital in supporting communities. Since the autumn statement of 2015, the Government has awarded up to £86.25m from the Tampon Tax Fund. The funding has been delivered to not-for-profit organisations running life-changing projects for women and girls across the UK.</p><p>For example the Fund has supported the work of the Labyrinth Project, run by Solace. This has:</p><ul><li>engaged with over 600 women’s centres and spaces,</li><li>trained over 2,000 professionals and volunteers to improve legal, financial and employment support for women, and</li><li>directly funded 41 small to medium women’s groups and organisations.</li></ul> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield question first answered 26/04/2023 14:13:04 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard

1349018

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2021
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Age: Discrimination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to tackle age discrimination in the workplace.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	37469
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2021 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) provides protection for those aged 16 and over against direct and indirect age discrimination in employment. The Act makes it unlawful for an employer to directly discriminate against an employee or a job applicant because of their actual or perceived age or the age of someone they are associated with. Differential treatment because of age is permitted if the employer can show that this is proportionate and in pursuit of a legitimate aim. There are also a number of other limited exceptions to the general prohibition.</p><p>It is also unlawful for an employer to indirectly discriminate on age grounds, for example by use of a recruitment policy which unjustifiably disadvantages particular age groups; to harass an employee for reasons related to their age and to victimise an employee for bringing or supporting a complaint under the Act.</p><p>A person who believes that they have experienced discrimination because of age, or other unlawful treatment, may take their case to an employment tribunal. Before doing so, we advise people to seek advice and if possible try to solve their issue through conciliation.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 10/09/2021 09:50:27 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1349747

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2021
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Age: Discrimination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to tackle ageism in society.
	tabling member constituency	Putney
	tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
	uin	38436
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2021 answer text <p>The Equality Act prohibits age discrimination in a variety of fields, including employment, the provision of services and the exercise of public functions. Differential treatment based on a person’s age is permitted, but only where this can be objectively justified.</p><p>Other legislation in recent years has also helped to tackle ageism – for example the abolition of the default retirement age in 2011 – but our approach goes beyond basic legal protections. For example, to support older workers to remain in work, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Government’s Business Champion for Older Workers are working with employer organisations – including CIPD, British Chambers of Commerce, ACAS and Local Enterprise Partnerships – to encourage employers to support their older workers, retain them in the workforce and benefit from their skills and experience.</p><p>For those who become unemployed, the Government’s Plan for Jobs provides new funding to ensure more people, including those aged 50 and over, get tailored Jobcentre Plus support to help them find work and to build the skills they need to get into work. As part of the Jobcentre Plus offer for people aged 50 and over, we are also providing dedicated support through 50 PLUS Champions, to ensure they fully benefit from the Plan for Jobs package and existing Jobcentre Plus support.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 10/09/2021 09:48:41 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
	tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1464604

	registered interest
	date	19/05/2022
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Alcoholic Drinks: Addictions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce (1) stigma, and (2) discrimination, of people with alcohol dependence.
	tabling member printed	Lord Carlile of Berriew
	uin	HL362
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2022 answer text <p>While the Government recognises the personal challenges faced by people with addictions or dependencies such as alcohol, we subscribe to the view of successive Governments since the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, that it is not appropriate to give such conditions protected status under discrimination law. Alcohol addiction or dependency therefore remains specifically excluded from the Act’s definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010.</p><p>Addiction and dependency can however sometimes cause a disability – for example lung or kidney failure – or be the result of a disability, for example a mental health condition. Where the addiction arises due to medically prescribed drugs or other medical treatment – for example an individual who has an addiction to painkillers because they are prescribed following an accident or surgery – protection may also be available under the Act. We believe that this offers the right balance between protecting individuals on the one hand and employers and service providers on the other.</p><p>There is a strong programme of work underway to address alcohol-related health harms and disparities, including an ambitious programme to establish specialist Alcohol Care Teams in hospitals and support children of alcohol dependent parents. The focus of the newly established Office for Health Improvement and Disparities is on improving the nation’s health and levelling up health disparities. This includes tackling alcohol-related health harms.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott grouped question UIN HL361 question first answered 24/05/2022 14:01:35 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
	tabling member	1138 label Biography information for Lord Carlile of Berriew

1458501

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2022
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Alcoholism: Discrimination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the impact the exclusion of alcohol dependence and other addictions from the protections of the Equality Act 2010 has had on (a) discrimination and (b) stigmatisation of people with a history of alcohol dependence.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Walton
	tabling member printed	Dan Carden
	uin	155898
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2022 answer text <p>While the Government recognises the personal challenges faced by people with addictions or dependencies such as alcohol, we subscribe to the view of successive Governments since the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, that it is not appropriate to give such conditions protected status under discrimination law. Alcohol addiction or dependency therefore remains specifically excluded from the Act’s definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010.</p><p>Addiction and dependency can however sometimes cause a disability – for example lung or kidney failure – or be the result of a disability, for example a mental health condition. Where the addiction arises due to medically prescribed drugs or other medical treatment – for example an individual who has an addiction to painkillers because they are prescribed following an accident or surgery – protection may also be available under the Act. We believe that this offers the right balance between protecting individuals on the one hand and employers and service providers on the other.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 25/04/2022 15:43:17 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
	tabling member	4651 label Biography information for Dan Carden

1471378

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2022
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Armed Forces: Sexual Offences
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, further to the oral contribution of the Minister for Women and Equalities on 8 June 2022, Official Report, column 794HC, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on that Department's strategy on handling cases of rape and serious sexual assault.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	20251
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2022 answer text <p>Departmental officials and Ministers talk regularly on a range of issues, and have discussed the Ministry of Defence’s strategy for tackling sexual offending in Defence, which will shortly be released.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 22/06/2022 08:07:05 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1605699

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2023
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Artificial Intelligence
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to action 72 of the report entitled Inclusive Britain: government response to the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, published on 17 March 2022, whether the Office for Artificial Intelligence has established a national position on governing and regulating Artificial Intelligence.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford East
	tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
	uin	169401
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/03/2023 answer text <p>When the Minister for Women and Equalities published Inclusive Britain, our ground-breaking strategy for tackling ethnic disparities, she committed to reporting back to Parliament on progress. We will publish the update report shortly, outlining progress against all 74 actions.</p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield grouped question UIN 169394 169395 169396 169397 169398 169399 169400 169402 169403 169404 169405 169406 169407 169408 169409 169410 169411 169412 question first answered 23/03/2023 17:13:57 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
	tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds

1623943

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2023
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Artificial Intelligence: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	Whether she is taking steps to help ensure that the use of artificial intelligence systems does not increase the risk of discrimination against people with protected characteristics.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	904649
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2023 answer text <p>We are committed to harnessing the huge potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve people’s lives. That’s why we’re making sure British values, rules and know-how are at the heart of safe AI that will benefit us all.</p><p>Our AI White Paper set out that:</p><ul><li>all uses of AI in the UK must comply with the Equality Act;</li><li>regulators should look to key principles such as fairness, accountability, contestability and redress when making sure that the use of AI is safe.</li></ul><p>I am also continuing to drive implementation of the Inclusive Britain Action Plan’s commitments to guard against bias in AI.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 26/04/2023 16:53:13 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1136240

	registered interest
	date	02/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Equality Act 2010, what steps the Government is taking to inform businesses and the service sector of the rights of assistance dogs.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	272197
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Hon.Member for Rotherham to the answer I gave her today, UIN: 290800.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 01/10/2019 11:59:04 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1136241

	registered interest
	date	02/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to assistance dogs.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	272198
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member for Rotherham to the answer I gave her today, UIN: 290801.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 01/10/2019 12:03:41 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1136242

	registered interest
	date	02/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will take steps to amend the definition for assistance dog to ensure that it applies to the Equality Act 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	272199
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>Section 173(1) of the Equality Act (the Act) already sets out a definition of an assistance dog in relation to those sections of the Act – applicable to taxis and private hire vehicles - which refer to assistance dogs, as follows:</p><p>a dog which has been trained to guide a blind person;</p><p>a dog which has been trained to assist a deaf person;</p><p>a dog which has been trained by a prescribed charity to assist a disabled person who has a disability that consists of epilepsy or otherwise affects the person's mobility, manual dexterity, physical co-ordination or ability to lift, carry or otherwise move everyday objects;</p><p>a dog of a prescribed category which has been trained to assist a disabled person who has a disability (other than one falling within paragraph (c)) of a prescribed kind;</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/07/2019 14:56:24 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1136517

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her Department's policies of the recommendations in the report by the charity Guide Dogs entitled, Access denied: a report into the frequency and impact of access refusals on assistance dog owners in 2019, on the establishment of an equality ombudsman.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	272844
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty therefore those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.</p><p> </p><p>The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is the public body responsible for enforcing the Equality Act. In 2017, the EHRC published two pieces of guidance - a guide to help businesses understand what they can do to meet their legal duties to assistance dog owners, and a guide to help tourism businesses welcome people with access requirements. The EHRC also supports disabled individuals who have experienced discrimination to take their cases to court. The EHRC has delivered a Legal Support Project to increase access to justice for people experiencing disability discrimination. In 2017/18 it offered disabled groups £189,000 for legal assistance across 94 cases in areas including employment, education and public services. The EHRC is also increasing its legal capacity to advise on discrimination cases.&quot;</p><p> </p><p>In the Government’s view, an equalities ombudsman as recommended by the Guide Dogs report would not usefully add to the EHRC’s functions.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 23/07/2019 14:57:02 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1145818

	registered interest
	date	25/09/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Equality Act 2010 in relation to assistance dogs.
	tabling member constituency	Rotherham
	tabling member printed	Sarah Champion
	uin	290801
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on employers and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. In the case of service providers this reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty therefore those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.</p><p>In recent years, case law has strengthened the equalities law for people with assistance dogs. There have been a number of significant cases brought under the Equality Act involving assistance dogs, which have been successfully litigated, for example, <em>Bloch v Kassim</em> (assistance dogs in taxis); <em>Clutton and Williams v Pen</em>-<em>y</em>-<em>Bryn Group (assistance dogs in restaurants); and McCafferty v Miah (assistance dogs in shops).</em></p><p>The Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS), the equalities and human rights helpline, receives about 35,000 customer contacts a year, more than 60% of which concern disability issues. The EASS intervenes directly with or assists the complainant to take the problem up with the relevant service provider in many cases, including those involving assistance dogs.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 01/10/2019 12:01:55 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins
	tabling member	4267 label Biography information for Sarah Champion

1175165

	registered interest
	date	21/01/2020
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to amend the Equality Act 2010 to give the same rights to owners of emotional support animals as those who own certified assistance animals.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Brady
	uin	HL609
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2020 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments for their disabled users and customers so that they are not disadvantaged compared with people who are not disabled. This requirement includes permitting access to assistance dogs where reasonable. If a person meets the Act’s definition of disability and has an emotional support animal to help them manage that disability, they should ask the service provider to consider allowing access to the animal.</p><p>Other than in relation to taxis, the Equality Act does not refer to assistance dogs or any other specific form of support or facility for disabled people, because each reasonable adjustment must be considered on its merits and in the context of the particular circumstances of the case. We therefore have no plans to include emotional support dogs in the Act, as this would be at odds with the basic and long-standing basis of the legislation.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 05/02/2020 11:36:15 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	4339 label Biography information for Baroness Brady

1550671

	registered interest
	date	12/12/2022
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will take steps to tackle access refusal of people with assistance dogs by businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Chatham and Aylesford
	tabling member printed	Tracey Crouch
	uin	108148
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2022 answer text <p>No one should be refused access to businesses or services because they legitimately have an assistance dog.</p><p>The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty, meaning that those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.</p><p>The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is the public body responsible for enforcing the Equality Act. In 2017, the Commission published two pieces of guidance – a guide to help businesses understand what they can do to meet their legal duties to assistance dog owners, and a guide to help tourism businesses welcome people with access requirements. The EHRC supports disabled individuals who have experienced discrimination to take their cases to court.</p><p>In recent years, case law has strengthened the equalities law for people with assistance dogs. There have been a number of significant cases brought under the Equality Act involving assistance dogs, which have been successfully litigated, for example, <em>Bloch v Kassim</em> (assistance dogs in taxis); <em>Clutton and Williams v Pen-y-Bryn Group</em> (assistance dogs in restaurants); and <em>McCafferty v Miah</em> (assistance dogs in shops). The Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), the equalities and human rights helpline, receives about 35,000 customer contacts a year, more than 60% of which concern disability issues. The EASS can intervene directly with or assist the complainant to take the case up with the relevant service provider in many cases, including those involving assistance dogs.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 15/12/2022 11:21:45 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	3950 label Biography information for Dame Tracey Crouch

1628526

	registered interest
	date	17/05/2023
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals: Public Buildings
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people with assistance dogs are not discriminated against when entering public buildings.
	tabling member constituency	Canterbury
	tabling member printed	Rosie Duffield
	uin	185645
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2023 answer text <p>No one should be refused access to businesses or services because they use a guide or other assistance dog.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), businesses and public bodies that provide goods and services to the public must not unlawfully discriminate against disabled people, including those with assistance dogs. The Act places a duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve access to premises, buildings and services. This could include allowing the use of assistance dogs so that disabled customers have the same access to goods and services and are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers.</p><p> </p><p>The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published guidance for all businesses, including service providers, on this subject. The guidance explains that assistance dogs should be treated as auxiliary aids and not as pets. The guidance is available at: <a href="https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/assistance-dogs-a-guide-for-all-businesses.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/assistance-dogs-a-guide-for-all-businesses.pdf</a> and makes clear that businesses and service providers should allow assistance dogs access to buildings where dogs would normally not be permitted whenever this is reasonable.</p><p> </p><p>Anybody who thinks that they have been discriminated against in the services offered to them - including where access to an assistance dog has been refused - can take legal action to resolve the issue. Before doing so, they might first find it useful to contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) which provides free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination concerns via their website - <a href="http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/" target="_blank">http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/</a> , or by telephone on 0808 800 0082 or by text phone on 0808 800 0084.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 26/05/2023 13:56:07 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	4616 label Biography information for Rosie Duffield

1545942

	registered interest
	date	28/11/2022
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Assistance Animals: Shops and Taxis
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that guide dog and assistance dog owners are not denied entry to (a) taxis, (b) shops and (c) businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	97695
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/12/2022 answer text <p>We are clear that no one should be refused access to businesses or services, including taxis, because they have an assistance dog.</p><p>Under the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), businesses that provide goods and services to the public must not unlawfully discriminate against people who meet the Act’s definition of disability. The Act places a duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve access to premises, buildings and services.</p><p>This duty could include allowing access to guide dogs or assistance dogs so that disabled customers have the same access to goods and services and are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled customers.</p><p>The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published guidance for all businesses, including service providers, on their duty towards disabled people who own assistance/guide dogs. The guidance explains that assistance dogs should be treated as auxiliary aids and not as pets. The guidance is available at: <a href="https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/assistance-dogs-a-guide-for-all-businesses.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/assistance-dogs-a-guide-for-all-businesses.pdf</a> and makes clear that businesses and service providers should allow assistance dogs access to buildings where dogs would normally not be permitted whenever this is reasonable.</p><p>Taxi and private hire drivers also have a duty under the Act to carry guide dogs and assistance dogs at no extra cost to the passenger. The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022, amended the Act to provide any disabled person with specific rights and protections to access and receive assistance when travelling in a taxi or private hire vehicle.</p><p>These duties and protections are ultimately enforceable through the courts, but as a first step, anybody who thinks they have been discriminated against in the services offered to them - including a failure to make reasonable adjustments - can contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) which provides free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination concerns via their website - <a href="http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com" target="_blank">http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com</a>, or by telephone on 0808 800 0082 or by text phone on 0808 800 0084.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 06/12/2022 17:13:49 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1652201

	registered interest
	date	06/07/2023
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Asylum: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on support for asylum seekers with protected characteristics.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	905960
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/07/2023 answer text <p>Everybody has a protected characteristic.</p><p>In supporting individuals and where it is required, we have an obligation to provide accommodation which is adequate to their needs, which may or may not be on account of protected characteristics.</p><p>Accommodation providers are required to take account of specific requirements from individuals who have specific characteristics including sexual and gender identity.</p> answering member constituency Derbyshire Dales answering member printed Miss Sarah Dines question first answered 12/07/2023 13:57:57 answering member 4816 label Biography information for Miss Sarah Dines
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1455707

	registered interest
	date	30/03/2022
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Autism: Equality
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to help ensure equality and freedom from discrimination for people with autism.
	tabling member constituency	Brecon and Radnorshire
	tabling member printed	Fay Jones
	uin	906390
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/03/2022 answer text <p>In July 2021, we published a new all-age autism strategy that set out our commitments to address the inequalities autistic people experience. These include poorer health outcomes and a 16 year life expectancy gap. As part of this, we have provided over £13 million to improve access to diagnosis, including through testing ways to reduce waiting times and expanding a pilot that is identifying autistic children and young people earlier on in life. To improve inclusion of autistic people, we have also provided £600,000 to train many more educational staff across England, and we will launch an autism public understanding initiative this year.</p> answering member constituency Chichester answering member printed Gillian Keegan question first answered 31/03/2022 09:42:25 answering member 4680 label Biography information for Gillian Keegan
	tabling member	4763 label Biography information for Fay Jones

1309810

	registered interest
	date	16/04/2021
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Babies and Mothers: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with Ministers in HM Treasury on the allocation of specific funding from the public purse to (a) new mothers and (b) children born since the outbreak of covid-19.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	182050
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to providing support to all those that need it, including new mothers and children born during the pandemic, as we recover from the impact of COVID-19. During the crisis we have rolled out unprecedented levels of support to protect jobs and income for both women and men, including via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Universal Credit uplift.</p><p>Financial support available for those who are pregnant or new parents includes Child Benefit, the Sure Start Maternity Grant, and the Healthy Start Scheme, as well as Maternity Allowance or paid parental leave for those who are eligible and/or Universal Credit where relevant.</p><p>We also recognise the impact of the pandemic and restrictions on people’s mental wellbeing and are doing our utmost to ensure that mental health services are there for everyone who needs them. The Government's mental health recovery action plan, backed by £500 million, will support hundreds of thousands of people with mental health issues.</p><p>All specialist and in-patient perinatal mental health services have remained available during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, having moved at pace during the early stages to be able to deliver digital and remote support.</p><p>Since 1 April 2020, GPs are required to offer a maternal postnatal consultation at 6-8 weeks after birth, focusing on a review of the mother’s physical and mental health and general wellbeing. This service has also continued throughout the pandemic.</p> answering member constituency Saffron Walden answering member printed Kemi Badenoch question first answered 28/04/2021 15:50:15 answering member 4597 label Biography information for Kemi Badenoch
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1644300

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2023
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Billing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of requiring all (a) utility, (b) banks and (c) other companies to provide paper bills in addition to electronic bills to people aged over 70.
	tabling member constituency	Southport
	tabling member printed	Damien Moore
	uin	189396
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2023 answer text <p>We fully recognise that some older people do not find it easy to access bills and statements electronically. Utility companies, banks and other service providers should, and in many cases do, recognise the varying communication needs of their customers but there is always scope for them to do more.</p><p>The Equality Act 2010 provides strong protection for older people, from discrimination because of age and disability. This includes protection from indirect discrimination, which can happen where, for example, a service provider treats some of its younger customers the same but in doing so disadvantages its older customers. While every case is different and subject to an “objective justification” test, using purely electronic communication could amount to indirect discrimination because of age and/ or disability and companies need to be aware of that.</p><p>A person who feels that they have experienced age discrimination may contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), the government helpline established to provide free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination concerns. The EASS can be contacted via their website -<a href="http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/" target="_blank"> http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/</a>, by telephone on 0808 8000082 or text phone on 0808 8000084. The EASS has the ability to intervene on an individual’s behalf with a service provider to help resolve an issue. The EASS can also advise people who wish to take their complaint further on their options.</p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 21/06/2023 15:58:13 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
	tabling member	4669 label Biography information for Damien Moore